Francois Pryrard was a French sailor who spent a decade in South Asia between 1601-1611 after being shipwrecked in the Maldives. He was captured by the natives and interned on the island of Male. While there, Pyrard learned the Dhivehi language and the customs of the Maldives (which is signficant, because the region was largely unknown to Europeans previously). He was able to escape in the chaos of a Bengali raid (Chittagong) in 1607 and make his way to Portuguese Goa. He made his return to Laval, France through Saint Helena and Brazil.

This book contains the story of his journey and publishes his extensive notes on the peoples he encountered. Part one focuses on the Maldives. Part two covers Goa, Portuguese India, Ceylan, the Spice Islands, St. Helena, and Brazil. Pyrard Part three contains information about the African coast, tropical and exotic fruits, Asian animals, and remarks on geography. Pyrard's work is notable for being one the earliest accounts of Brazilian city life. On his return to France he was shipwrecked at Bahia, Brazil. There is an interesting description of Portuguese - African slave trafficking in part 2, 138 p.